On Thursday, about five months after Operation Rio Grande began, Utah leaders reached roughly the halfway point of their goal to provide more residential drug-treatment beds as they crack down on crime and boost services to the homeless.
The latest headway made on the big promise came as Odyssey House, a substance-abuse program, unveiled its largest expansion yet: 83 beds in a new facility in Millcreek that about doubles its current capacity. The two-year statewide collaboration aims for up to 240 beds.
“We have all come to the conclusion very quickly that the answer to all of our challenges is to open wider the doors to treatment,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams.